Timber and Forestry E News Issue 321

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Setting the standard for sustainable forest management Globally recognised by PEFC, the world’s largest sustainable forest management certification scheme.

ISSUE 321 | June 9, 2014

www.forestrystandard.org.au

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FSC Australia needs $1.3m for consensus on national standard

The NATIONAL Major step for responsible forest management voice for FOREST Stewardship Council Australia took a step closer to launching a national standard by revealing a first draft of new guidelines to members at its recent AGM in Melbourne.

FSC Australia says it needs to invest a budgeted $1.3 million over two years to take the FSC’s global standards and create something locally relevant and locally owned. At this stage, more than half the money has been obtained or promised to

make this possible.

The forest stewardship standard is being developed by the Standards Development Group, elected by FSC Australia’s members in September last year.

The group of nine representatives is tasked with coming to a consensus position on behalf of the FSC’s membership about how Australian forests should be

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Cont P 3

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ISSUE 321 | PAGE 1

INDUSTRY NEWS

Learning resource project launched in Mount Gambier Advanced Diploma of Forest Industry Sustainability

THE Institute of Foresters of Australia has announced a partnership project with ForestWorks ISC. The project, launched at the recent IFA symposium in Mount Gambier, SA, will produce a suite of seven interactive online resources to support the new Advanced Diploma of Forest Industry Sustainability.

Ninety people attended the event from all over Australia, providing a great opportunity to collect feedback from industry on the development and application of the resources.

Mark Parsons, IFA member and writer of two of the resources, said the project was very well received by industry.

“It was the first time that many of the people had heard about the advanced diploma and they were very interested in the idea of a course in sustainability, and that it did not just focus on the environment, but also on economic and social factors,” he said.

“They were particularly pleased to learn that the IFA is taking a role and using the expertise of members to help develop learning resources for the forestry and wood products industries.”

Michael Hartman, CEO of

Forest sustainability .. Mark Parson (left), resource writer, meets with IFA member Keith Atkinson in Mount Gambier.

Michael Hartman .. a pathway to higher education.

ForestWorks ISC, said IFA writers were liaising with industry and drawing on their workplace

experience when writing the resources.

“Through this collaborative process we should be able to develop some fantastic learning resources for a qualification that offers capacity to develop skills and knowledge in environmental, economic and social sustainability within the forestry industry, as well as provide a pathway to higher education,” Mr Hartman said.

Funding for the project has been provided by the federal government, through the Department of Industry.

Information about the project is available on the iFA website forestry.org.au

NZ adopts AS4708 with national modifications forestworks@forestworks.com.au

www.forestworks.com.au

PAGE 2 | ISSUE 321

A NEW Zealand standard for Sustainable Forest Management (NZS AS4708:2014), published in May, has been adopted with national modifications from the Australian standard®AS4708–2013 via an agreement between AFS Ltd and Standards New Zealand.

The first NZ national standard for forest management is a real milestone; it provides forest owners and managers with environmental, economic, social, and cultural criteria

that support the sustainable management of forests.

This voluntary standard may be applied by farm foresters to woodlots, as well as large plantation forests. It may also be applied to native forests, whether or not they are used for production purposes.

The new standard could form the basis for PEFC-endorsed forest management certification in New Zealand. It will be up to stakeholders to decide if and

how they would like this to happen and AFS Ltd has agreed to continue to provide support and advice in this process if and when it is requested.

In Australia, the chain-ofcustody standard for certified wood and forest products (AS4707) has been under review by a standards reference committee for some time and AFS Ltd anticipates that the revised AS4707–2014 will be published in the near future.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Australia has a very specific set of environmental circumstances From P 1

managed.

FSC Australia CEO Natalie Reynolds said this was a major milestone for responsible forest management in Australia.

“There is no better way to come to consensus on highly contentious issues than to bring a group of people with differing views together in a room under FSC’s international framework,” Ms Reynolds said.

The Standards Development Group representatives have an even balance of social, environmental and economic backgrounds – including representatives from the union movement, specialists on environmental issues and foresters.

They will reach a consensus on more than 30 key forest management issues, including: • Workers’ rights and employment conditions.

• Protecting the interests of and creating benefits for indigenous communities.

• Maintenance and conservation of ecosystems and environmental values where lands are subject to harvesting activities.

• Water catchment management practices.

• The protection of rare, threatened and endangered species.

• Enhancing the social and economic wellbeing of local communities.

All the parties must agree on each and every issue before the standard is finalised.

The group conducted a facilitated forum at the FSC Australia AGM on May 29 seeking input and feedback from its members on the first draft of the standard, followed by a public consultation period until the end of July. A final version is expected by the end of next year.

“Australia has a very specific

Natalie Reynolds

Jonathan La Nauze

set of environmental social and economic circumstances to consider so it’s important that we make the international standard locally appropriate,” Natalie Reynolds said.

The process is being overseen by independent chair Dr Evelyne Meier who says the Standards Development Group has worked tirelessly on the first draft.

“We’re looking forward to engaging with members to gather vital feedback and input as we progress towards a final consensus position,” she said.

Dr Evelyne Meier

member).

Economic – Suzette Weeding, Forestry Tasmania; Amanda Naismith, New Forests Asset Management; Peter Grist, Australian Forest Products Association.

Jonathan La Nauze, campaigner with the Australian Conservation Foundation, was elected FSC Autralia chair at the AGM. The deputy chair will be decided at the next board meeting

Five new appointments were announced for the FSC Board – Cheryl Speechley, Tetra Pak Oceania (economic chamber); Linda Fienberg, individual member, and Kevin Peachey, National Timber Council Association (social); Jonathan La Nauze, Australian Conservation Foundation, and Sarah Rees, Australian Forests and Climate Alliance (environment).

Re-appointments included Pat Groenhout, PF Olsen, and Jacqueline Fegent-McGeachie, Kimberley-Clark Australia (economic); Susie Russell, North East Forest Alliance (environment); Jacki Schirmer, individual member (social).

Natalie Reynolds said the FSC’s great strength lay in its ability to encourage communication between people with different interests, ideas and philosophies.

Consensus on more than 30 forestry issues Dr Meier has extensive experience working in highlevel policy related roles across government, the private sector and a number of multistakeholder initiatives. She is an experienced chairperson and director with a strong record of guiding policy processes in natural resource management and stakeholder engagement.

The Standards Development Group representatives comprise: Social – Aidan Flanagan, Institute of Foresters of Australia; Tim Anderson, Regional Forest Communities (individual member); Travis Wacey, union movement (individual member) Environmental – Warrick Jordan, The Wilderness Society; Paul Winn, Hunter Community Environment Centre; David Blair, forest ecologist (individual

ISSUE 321 | PAGE 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

FWPA industry resource update Key market data now at your fingertips

A NEW timber industry resource will be part of a website upgrade by Forest and Wood Products Australia.

The new website gives FWPA members – from growers to processors and sellers – access to a new online dashboard of market information.

Comprising a public area with interactive charts showing trade figures and a members-only area with proprietary market data and more specialised information, the new resource promises to be of value to the whole industry.

Detailed sales volume information “Efficient allocation of resources and understanding market behaviour are essential

drivers of industry sustainability and growth,” FWPA managing director Ric Sinclair said.

“The aim of the new dashboard is to provide industry decision makers with a central point of access to a range of public domain data, in addition to proprietary data which FWPA is aggregating on behalf of industry.”

FWPA statistics and economics manager Jim Houghton said the new resource would provide industry participants and policy makers with data and commentary on key industry drivers.

“The online dashboard is designed to complement the national Forest and Wood Products Statistics published

by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES),” he said.

Jim Houghton .. data and commentary on new industry drivers.

Information is also available from the data aggregation services that FWPA is undertaking for industry. This includes detailed monthly sales volume information from the softwood data aggregation service. This service has

recently been expanded and now covers more than 90% of monthly industry sales.

FWPA is also working to develop data aggregation systems for other industry sectors such as hardwood sawmillers and forest growers.

As data from these services becomes available summary information will also be provided through the dashboard.

Other information of a more specialised nature is only available to FWPA members and associate members through a dedicated log in.

When complete this will be structured to provide a broad range of interactive data in three key areas, international, national and domestic.

“This is an exciting development and an Cont P 15

A PROVEN PERFORMER. 10 years of successful use means maximum Peace of Mind Not only have

treated frames performed in

Australian houses, ongoing high intensity field testing continues to confirm that Determite’s highly termite repellent formula is a standout.

Innovation & Technology from Osmose. It’s what we do!

Find us at osmose.com.au or call 1800 088 809 Osmose® and DeterMite® are trademarks of Osmose, Inc. or its subsidiaries. DeterMite treated timber products are produced by independently owned and operated wood preserving facilities. *See separate guarantee document for details. © 2014 Osmose, Inc.

PAGE 4

| ISSUE 321

INDUSTRY NEWS

2014 AROUND THE CIRCUIT

JUNE

11-12: Wood Flow Logistics 2014 – Rotorua, NZ. 17-18: Melbourne (www.woodflowlogistics.com).

This series will add a number of components from the steep slope wood harvesting event and will provide a practical update on innovations, strategies and technologies used by leading forest products companies to improve their planning, logistics and operations within the wood supply chain – from forest through to market.

20: Native forest management field day.

Latest changes – all landholders must be aware. Anne Parker’s Moonford property, cnr Clonmel and Ford Creek roads. Follow the signs. Free day 9 am to 3 pm. Topics include: New selfassessable code for native forest practice (Qld): slope restrictions; drainage line mapping changes; harvest restriction on some RE’s; minimum tree socking requirements. Forest condition, tree health, crown condition.

Stocking rate calculations as per the new code. Treatment to improve timber growth and value. Integrating with grazing.

Smoko provided. Bring a hat, lunch and chair. Covered shoes mandatory. Worship supported by the Burnett Mary Regional Group through funding from the federal government. Further information: Bill Schulke: 0408 963 723. Private Forestry Service Queensland (PFSQ): (07) 5483 6535.

JULY 6-9: NZIF 2014 conference – Napier War Memorial, 48 Marine Parade, Napier. This is the Institute of Forestry’s main event for the year. Forest owners, professionals, managers, consultants and educators will

meet to discuss the conference theme, ‘Tackling the Challenges and Delivering Value’. Field trip to Hawkes Bay, New Zealand’s fruit bowl and premium wine region – and 135,000 ha of forest plantations split between a few larger companies and many smaller growers. Email: admin@ nzif.org.nz Web: www.forestry. org.nz

AUGUST 2014 5-6: MobileTECH 2014: Primary Industries Future. Brisbane.

12-13: Auckland, NZ (www.mobiletech2014.com).

These events will profile the latest mobile tools, technologies and innovations driving the future of primary industries (farming, horticulture, forestry, dairy, meat, wool, fisheries and mining). MobileTECH 2014 will showcase a wide range of mobile technologies and innovations, including smartphones, tablets, mobile apps, satellite mapping and communications, robotics, aerial drones, remote sensors, electronic tagging, intelligent data, M2M, real-time analytics and cloud-based platforms.

6-9: AWISA 2014 exhibition.

Brisbane Convention and exhibition Centre. Displays of panel processing, solid wood and timber machinery, tooling, manufacturing software, plus ancillary products such as dust extraction and materials handling equipment. Opportunity forn the cabinet, kitchen, furniture, joinery, timber, fit-out and panel industries to inspect new equipment. Inquiries about booking space: email info@awisa. com or call Geoff Holland. Tel: (02) 9918 3661. Fax: (02) 9918 7764. Mob: 0412 361 580.

Email: info@awisa.com 7-8: DANA conference, Melbourne.

The Australian forestry and forest products sector: its

situation in 2014 and trends going forward. Bayview Eden Hotel, Melbourne. Speakers: Gavin Hoe, RISI China; Oliver Lansdell, global pulp specialist; Rodrigo Monreal, solid wood products chief of Arauco, Chile; Matthew Wood, CEO Stora Enso Australia; Russ Taylor, president of WOODMarkets; Peter Barynin, lead economist with Boston USAbased RISI; Peter Zed (Australian sawmilling sector); Simon Dories, general manager, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia; Ross Hampton, CEO, Forest and Wood Products Australia; Steve Whitley, CEO, Forestry Tasmania. Conference includes panel of overseas plantation investors. Contact Pamela Richards at pam@prcc. com.au or visit www.dana.co.nz 11-12: DANA conference, Rotorua, NZ. The New Zealand forestry and forest products sector: its situation in 2014 and trends going forward. Novotel Rotorua Hotel, Rotorua. Web: www.prcc.com.au/ danamelbourne2014.

Conference consultant: Pam Richards 61 3 5781 0069.

Email: pam@prcc.com.au

SEPTEMBER 17-18: Wood Innovations 2014: Timber Preservation – Wood Modification – Composite Products – Rotorua, NZ. 23-24: Melbourne. (www.woodinnovations2014. com). Changes in new wood treatment formulations, processes and systems, standards, legislation with the focus also on wood plastic composites and modified wood products.

19-20: ForestTECH 2014.

Rotorua, NZ. 25-26: Melbourne. (www.foresttech2014.com).

Remote sensing, field Inventory, forest estate planning.

THE AUSTRALIAN FOREST PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION The lead voice in Canberra on policy affecting forest, wood and paper products industries.

AFPA strives to deliver benefits for the complete industry value chain including those involved in: • Forest growing • Harvest and haulage • Sawmilling and other wood processing • Pulp and paper processing • Forest product exporting

Join us today and share the benefits Call (02) 6285 3833

ISSUE 321 | PAGE 5

ENGINEERED WOOD

Docklands library turns new page for CLT construction in Australia $23m Melbourne complex earns 6-star green rating

AUSTRALIA’S first public building constructed using cross laminated timber, Melbourne’s Dockland library and community centre, has opened its doors to the public.

The complex is a partnership between the City of Melbourne, Places Victoria and Lend Lease.

The major structural components of the threestorey building are made from more than 500 cub m of CLT produced at Stora Enso’s manufacturing facility in Austria and shipped to Australia.

Located on the waterfront at Victoria Harbour, this method of construction – along with a range of other sustainability features – has led the $23 million library to be awarded Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star rating for a public building.

CLT allowed completion in 2½ months The use of CLT allowed the Docklands project to be competed in just two and a half months.

“The Australian construction industry is well used to working with wood, and CLT has recently

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Melbourne’s Dockland library and community centre .. Australia’s first public building constructed using cross laminated timber.

been gaining a lot of attention from construction companies due to its many advantages,” says Matti Mikkola, vicepresident, building solutions, at Stora Enso Building and Living.

The Docklands library and community centre is an excellent example of how wood, and especially CLT, can deliver added value as a construction material,” he said.

The library and community centre complex has been constructed on a wharf originally designed in 1879.

Because of the light weight of CLT, only a limited amount of additional pilings and repairs of the old timber posts were required, which also

considerably reduced the cost of the project.

In addition to the advantages with speed and weight, there are also strong environmental arguments for CLT. “CLT offers a sustainable alternative to conventional materials given its potential to be carbon negative,” says Andrew Nieland, head of timber solutions for Lend Lease.

“CLT is a lightweight, strong, solid wood and given its pre-fabricated nature drives efficiency improvements onsite.”

General manager of the Australian Timber Importers Federation John Halkett

said the Docklands project provided another example of the critical role of major timber product importing companies such as Stora Enso in leading innovation in commercial and residential prefabrication in Australia.

“Maintaining this innovation in panel products like CLT and palletised wall and flooring systems will be essential as Australia’s commercial construction activity continues to ramp up and as residential housing construction nudges toward 200,000 starts a year,” Mr Halkett said.

Pre-fab drives efficiencies of building on site The building’s passive design also promotes natural ventilation, daylight and fresh indoor air quality, resulting in reduced energy consumption, and a healthier indoor environment.

Other sustainability initiatives include a 55,000 litre tank in the nearby Victoria Green Park which collects water for reuse, Cont P 7

ENGINEERED WOOD

Decking built from timbers reclaimed from old wharves at Victoria Harbour From P 6

and 85 kW solar panels on the roof which will supply a third of the building’s operational power. At the same time, the third floor features an indoor/ outdoor winter garden with an artificial turf and operable façade and roof.

The façade consists of recycled ironbark and tallowwood timber, which complements the promenade decking. This decking is made from reclaimed timber from the Victoria Harbour south wharf.

“Library at The Dock is an exceptional example of why we must make sustainability everyone’s business,” chief executive of the Green Building Council of Australia Romilly Madew said.

Andrew Nieland ..

CLT drives efficiency improvements on site.

Matti Mikkola ..

Romilly Madew .. construction advantages sustainability is gaining attention. everyone’s business.

one of Australia’s most livable suburbs.

It is estimated that by 2030,

Docklands will be a residential area for about 16,000 people.

Upon completion, the precinct

John Halkett .. maintaining innovation in panel products.

is expected to attract 20 million visitors a year and to be a workplace for 40,000 people.

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Building greener sites as well as greener attitudes “When we build these spaces green, we are building greener attitudes and a greener future,” she said.

As well as digital and traditional library collections, the three-storey library and community centre offers a recording studio, editing suites, and a gallery and exhibition space that recognises Docklands’ heritage.

The project is a joint initiative of the state government developer Places Victoria, Lend Lease and the City of Melbourne. It is part of the Victorian Coalition government’s Docklands Community and Place Plan aimed at making Docklands

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ISSUE 321 | PAGE 7

INDUSTRY NEWS

Breaking ground .. Ta Ann geared to produce plywood in six months R&D under way on new value-added products EVAN Rolley was positive, confident and excited: “We’re breaking first ground on the project this week and more than a third of the machinery has arrived on the wharf at Burnie.”

The chief executive of Ta Ann Tasmania said the new plywood mill at Smithton in the state’s northwest was on target for completion with the first production trials scheduled for November.

Adding value to eucalypt regrowth logs Malaysian-based Ta Ann is developing the mill on a site northeast and adjacent to its

veneer factory, using $7.5 million provided by the federal government and matching this to build a $15 million state-ofthe-art facility.

The government funding was tied to the Tasmanian forest peace deal, money committed by the previous Labor government.

Mr Rolley said the building program had won council approval and leading Tasmanian construction firm Vos had surveyed the site and pegged out the plan for immediate building commencement, Founded 60 years ago by Roelf Vos, Vos Construction is a family business with revenues in excess of $100 million that also undertakes joinery and shop-fitting work nationwide.

info@forestry.org.au | www.forestry.org.au PAGE 8

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Evan Rolley .. full speed ahead for plywood production at Smithton.

Vos was also the builder for Ta Ann’s Huon mill in 2007 and the Smithton veneer mill in 2008.

Established in 2007, Ta Ann Tasmania adds value to eucalypt regrowth logs previously used only for woodchips by peeling them into high-value PEFCcertified veneer for domestic and international product.

After discussions with freight forwarders, Ta Ann expects the balance of machinery – sourced from New Zealand, the US, South Korea and Malaysia – will be on site during July and August.

The company was conferring with potential partners on the production of a number of special value-added products and research on these products was continuing at the DAFF Salisbury research facility in Brisbane.

“The big challenge for us is to keep the veneer plant operating at full capacity while the plywood mill is being constructed nearby,” Mr Rolley said.

“We want to avoid any

shutdown of veneer production so we’re working through options to keep it going as long as possible.”

Mr Rolley, a former managing director of Forestry Tasmania, said the plywood mill would draw on the forest resource across the state’s northwest and into the northeast highlands.

“But as we up plywood production, we will be looking to engage with private forest growers, who’ve had a pretty lean two or three years with the closure of Gunns,” Mr Rolley said.

“We hope to put private logs through for plywood manufacture as we develop new markets in the early part of 2015.”

Mr Rolley said Ta Ann would continue developing its export markets.

“We have experience in those supply chains and we certainly want to consolidate and maintain those opportunities internationally.”

He said as far as product certification was concerned, Forestry Tasmania had indicated that its timeline for FSC certification towards the end of 2014 was progressing.

“We hold PEFC certification on all existing stock bit it would be beneficial if we could add

Products have environmental credentials FSC certification to the mix.”

Mr Rolley said Ta Ann would be able to guarantee a very high quality plywood, backed by the environmental credentials that this wood was sourced under an independently Cont P 10

INDUSTRY NEWS

Chips are down at Triabunna site as tourism wins TWO Australian millionaires will transform a key Tasmanian woodchip mill into a major tourist attraction, in a blow to the state government and the forestry industry.

The Triabunna mill was sold to Wotif.com co-founder Graeme Wood and Kathmandu clothing brand founder Jan Cameron in 2011 for $10 million. Both are passionate environmentalists.

The forestry industry and the state government have been desperate for the site to re-open, but Mr Wood has confirmed to ABC News that will not be happening.

Environmental Protection Authority approval for the site to operate lapsed in May and it has now entered a rehabilitation phase.

The multi-purpose development will be known as Spring Bay Mill and will seek to boost tourism in Tasmania, which is facing a faltering economy.

Mr Wood and Ms Cameron had maintained the site, formerly owned by timber giant Gunns, would be re-opened to forestry, even putting the running of the mill out to tender. But Mr Wood is unapologetic about keeping it closed.

‘Not one tender made economic sense’ – Wood “We never got one tender that made economic sense and the reason for that was woodchipping makes less and less sense internationally,” he said.

The value of woodchip exports fell by more than 40% in the past five years.

But James Neville Smith, who runs Neville Smith Timbers, a major player in the Tasmanian forestry industry, is not impressed.

“The whole of Tasmania should be disappointed about this decision,” Mr Smith said.

Timber & Forestry e-news is the most authoritative and quickest deliverer of news and special features to the forest and forest products industries in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. Weekly distribution is over 16000 copies, delivered every Monday. Advertising rates are the most competitive of any industry magazine in the region. Timber&Forestry e-news hits your target market – every week, every Monday!

Gloating .. millionaire environmentalist Graeme Wood with former Greens Party leader Bob Brown.

He challenged Mr Wood’s claim that the woodchip mill would not make money.

“If you chose to operate that site right now it would be a good business, but people do weird things,” he said.

“That would allow the state commercial body Forestry Tasmania to generate significant revenue that has otherwise been lost because they have to cart the wood to the north of the state.”

But Mr Wood is unfazed by the criticism, deriding it as “lastcentury thinking”. He gave the ABC 7.30 program an exclusive tour of the 43-ha site to fleshout his radically different vision.

It is wide-ranging, including accommodation, artistic performances, a culinary school and farm stays.

Construction of accommodation is expected to begin in 2015.

“The plan I have in front of me says that real construction starts in the second quarter of next year and we’re not talking about 10-storey buildings, we’re talking about log cabin-type accommodation among the trees” Mr Wood said.

The key attraction is Maria Island national park, a former convict settlement and home to a disease-free population of Tasmanian devils.

HEAD OFFICE Correspondence to Custom Publishing Group PO Box 569 Ormeau QLD 4208 Phone +61 7 5547 6547 PUBLISHER Dennis Macready Phone +61 7 5547 6547 dennis@industrye-news.com

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Opinions expressed on Timber & Forestry e news are not necessarily the opinions of the editor, publisher or staff. We do not accept responsibility for any damage resulting from inaccuracies in editorial or advertising. The Publisher is therefore indemnified against all actions, suits, claims or damages resulting from content on this e news. Content cannot be reproduced without the prior consent of the Publisher - Custom Publishing Group.

ISSUE 321 | PAGE 9

SPECIAL EVENT

Rebuilding market confidence as a reliable long-term supplier of wood From P 8

certified system which would add significant value to the Australian construction industry.

The plywood mill at Smithton will provide 120 direct jobs, as well as create employment for contractors in supply and transport.

Smithton will provide 120 direct jobs Mr Rolley says it is a longterm investment.

“We are looking to develop this market in Australia, including a range of speciality plywood areas over the course of the next 12 or 18 months.”

The chairman of Ta Ann Tasmania Datuk Sepawi said the

Ta Ann veneer mill at Smithton .. production continues as site prepares for plywood mill construction.

company had already invested more than $70 million in valueadding capital investment over the past eight years in Tasmania and the plywood project would

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deliver 90 direct and indirect jobs in construction and up to 120 direct jobs when fully productive.

Ta Ann has had to scale back 40% of mill throughput volume to meet the requirements for the new and agreed state forest wood supply areas under the

Tasmanian Forest Agreement.

“We have to slowly rebuild market confidence in Tasmania as a reliable long-term source of wood supply,” Mr Sepawi said.

Mr Sepwai said Ta Ann had worked for the last 18 months with specialist R&D support to develop a new plywood product not currently produced in Australia that would bring new strength and durability to plywoods available for the building industry.

Recent market briefings by the state premier in Japan had confirmed that Ta Ann could supply the market with wood sourced from state forest areas approved by environmental groups under the TFA in a supply arrangement confirmed to the end of the current contracts in 2028, he said.

“Plans are well under way for the next stage of our strategic development of value adding to Tasmanian hardwoods,” Mr Sepawi said.

Global sawlog prices move upward in most regions WITH improved lumber markets in many regions around the world in early 2014, sawlog consumption was higher and sawlog prices were moving upward in a majority of the 20 regions covered by Wood Resource Quarterly.

The global sawlog price index rose by 0.8% from the 4Q/13 to US$89.45/m3 in the 1Q/14.

•During the 1Q/14, trade of logs was up in all major markets of the world as compared to the 1Q/13. For the four largest exporting countries, the increase was 17%, with the biggest rise in shipments coming out of Russia.

Lower wood fibre prices in local currencies and a strengthening US dollar resulted in declines in both the softwood

and hardwood fibre price indices, which are the price indices that track wood costs for the global pulp industry.

The SFPI fell from $99.51/odmt in the 4Q/13 to $99.43/odmt in the 1Q/14, with the biggest price reductions occurring in Canada, Russia, Australia and Brazil.

The prices for hardwood pulplogs have trended downward in many markets for more than two years, which is reflected in an HFPI Index that has constantly fallen each quarter since its peak in the 3Q/11. In the 1Q/14, the HFPI was $97.01/odmt, down from $97.59/odmt in the previous quarter. Prices fell the most in Russia, Eastern Canada, Western US and Brazil.

ENGINEERED WOOD

Hoop pine plywood turns old into new as architects restore 80-year-old home

Exposed core veneer feature increasing in popularity OLD became new as a team of architects stunningly restored and refined a 1936 Queen Anne residence in Perth using the natural beauty of hoop pine plywood, provided by a Brisbane manufacturer 4400 km away.

The project The Casa 31_4 Room House is collaboration between Caroline Di Costa Architect and Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects. It won the 2013 Residential Award of Merit (interior spaces) in the Western Australia Design Institute of Australia awards.

The design features Austral Premium AC (exterior) and Austral Appearance Flooring provided by Austral Plywoods in Brisbane which has been operating since 1925.

Both inside and out, this project renews a structure that dates back 80 years with a modern, faceted fascia and a classic-meets-contemporary interior.

From the approach, Casa 31_4 Room House has a lowhanging, traditional bungalow entrance with hints at the progressive shapes moving toward the rear. It is as if the architects planned to tell a story of the building’s history, showing its original inspiration at the entrance then progressing toward contemporary design in the rear.

The rear patio of the home showcases its full modern appeal, with a wild translucent screen fascia opening over a Interior living room at The Casa 31_4 Room House.

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Cont P 15

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ISSUE 321 | PAGE 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

Government posts guidance on illegal logging regulations PNG flags conflict with WTO rules

AWISA 2014 is the international exhibition for the Australian and New Zealand cabinet, joinery, furniture, timber and panel industries.

THE Australian Department of Agriculture will shortly release guidance on how timber and wood products importers and domestic processors can comply with the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation.

The guidance will be released on its website at www.daff.gov. au/illegallogging The regulation was passed into law last year by the federal parliament and commences on November 30 this year. From that date, importers of most timber and wood products will be required to declare if they have complied with the due diligence requirements of the regulation to minimise the risk that the timber products they import are made from illegally harvested wood. The regulation also applies to domestic processors of raw logs. However, they will not be required to make a declaration.

“While many in the timber and wood products industry will argue the merits of the regulation, the reality is that it is now Australian law and from November 30 most timber and wood product importers and domestic processors will have to comply,” Timber Development Association CEO Andrew Dunn said.

Regulation passed into law last year The federal government’s guidance, while quite broad in nature, will assist timber and wood product importers and domestic processors of raw logs clarify if they are affected and what they can do to meet the due diligence requirements stipulated in the regulation.

The release of the government’s guidance will

PAGE 12 | ISSUE 321

Andrew Dunn .. most timber and wood product importers and domestic processors will have to comply.

coincide with the release of industry developed timber due diligence tools, templates and additional information as well as a series of initial training seminars in late June in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. More information on these is available through the TDA’s industry website www. timberduediligence.com.au Meanwhile, one of Australia’s leading international trade lawyers considers that the Illegal Logging Act and its regulations conflict with many provisions of the rules of the World Trade Organisation.

Professor Andrew Mitchell of the University of Melbourne Law School was commissioned by the PNG Forest Industries Association to assess the compatibility of the Act and its regulations with WTO obligations.

Prof. Mitchell found the early version of the Act contravened WTO rules and submitted that opinion to a parliamentary inquiry. The Labor Partydominated inquiries disregarded the findings, but Cont P 13

the Opposition Liberal National Parties did not.

Since then the regulations to the Act have been tabled in the parliament and adopted.

Prof. Mitchell was asked to review them along with the Act. He found seven likely breaches of WTO rules. These are being countries.

The PNG Forest Industries Association says Australian Department of Agriculture negotiate

understandings

“This fundamental feature of the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act is the main reason it breaches so many WTO rules.

with agriculture authorities in exporting economies.

They are trying to negotiate determine how the controls will apply.

Regulations reviewed to lighten burden

and other Asian economies want automatic recognition of their rules which demonstrate exports are legally produced but they are now starting to realise that “Australian

“Australian importers have asked that the regulations be reviewed to lighten the regulatory burden.

The Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Forests has so far refused these requests.”

will decide if laws in exporting economies are satisfactory, not them,” a PNG forest industry spokesman said..

Harvesting an underwater forest in Panama WHILE poachers continue their rampage in search of rare woods in Panama forests an American company plans a multi-million-dollar underwater harvest.

Hollund Industrial Marine, Inc., an underwater forest management company, says it will soon be in position to harvest valuable hardwoods submerged in the Bayano Reservoir in Panama.

The Bayano Lake Project covers 1000 ha of tropical forest brought to the surface. in the eastern part of Panama. The lake was such as espave. formed after the Bayano Dam, Hollund gave no time table for the country’s second-largest the underwater harvest, citing power source, was built in 1976. the need for permits for the work, Following the results of a survey but notes in its announcement of the underwater area in Darién the term of a concession permit Province, Panama, Hollund announced the discovery of options. The goal of the forest more than 20 marketable species harvest activities is the removal of wood. According to its survey, of accessible timber in Bayano one-third of the timber in the Lake Project permitted areas, for reservoir is made up of valuable the primary purpose of selling or hardwoods, such as cocobolo or processing forest products. rosewood. The other two thirds Once the timber is harvested, of the timber include softwoods,

the reservoir will be used in submerged woods have hindered this plan.

to assist the local community leaders with underwater farming following the removal of the timber.

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ISSUE 321 | PAGE 13

EVENTS

Brisbane, Auckland talks give clear images on mobile communications

Satellites, GPS systems put plantation forests in the picture EVER wanted to know what the latest developments in mobile technologies are and how they are being used within the industry? Thinking about investing in technology for your business but don’t know where to start?

Whether its satellite imagery of plantation forests, GPS tracking and real-time scheduling of transport and logistics, sensor monitoring for soil and stock management, or automated water management systems, primary sector businesses have a lot to benefit from improved mobile technologies.

While you’re probably using technologies such as smartphones, tablets, mobile apps, satellite mapping and communications, it is also likely some of your neighbours are looking further ahead to improve their operations. Many are already investing in robotics, aerial drones, remote sensors, electronic tagging, intelligent data, machine-to-machine communications (M2M), realtime analytics and cloud-based platforms.

Drones will be big talking point at 2014 event For those working in primary industries, what you really want to know is just what are these technologies, how they’re being employed and used by industry leaders, what gains in efficiencies and productivity are being achieved and just what

In the air .. drones are being used for remote field inspections, checking plant health, fighting wildfires and even weed spraying in more difficult or sensitive terrain.

does it take to integrate some of these new tools into your own business.

Some of the best minds in New Zealand and Australia came together last year in Wellington, New Zealand for this region’s inaugural MobileTECH Summit 2013. It was a new and very timely event designed to discuss and showcase mobile technologies best suited to increase productivity in the primary industries.

The sharing of information between leading technology providers and the country’s primary industries from the summit last year proved invaluable. Companies from each of the main primary industries, agriculture (meat, wool and dairy), horticulture, forestry and grain were able to learn from each other on an array of new innovative tools, platforms and technologies that were being used.

Building on the momentum of last year’s summit, MobileTECH

Asia Pacific, SwarmFarm Robotics, Xero, Silent Herdsman, GPSIT, Agri Optics, Harrington Systems Electronics, Droidworx, Falcon UAV, PASource, Landcare New Zealand, CSIRO, FARMpos, Scion and Comworth.

Drones (also known as UAVs) will be a big talking point at this year’s event.

“Drones were discussed last year, but since then their use as a practical productive farming tool has skyrocketed,” said program director Ken Wilson.

“Drones are now used for aerial photography, remote field inspections, checking out plant health, assessing water leaks in sprinkler systems, fighting wildfires and even weed spraying in more difficult or sensitive terrain,” he said.

Event will focus on a many new technologies

Tony Brown, remote sensing specialist with the Forestry Corporation of NSW tests a UAV.

2014 will be running this year in Brisbane on August 5 and 6 and in Auckland on August 12 and 13.

Confirmed presenters already include Mobile Mentor, Tracta, Hawkeye UAV, KORE Wireless

While the rise of the drones will be popular, this year’s MobileTECH 2014 will focus on a raft of new technologies that can be adopted now, whether it’s on the farm, in the greenhouse or out in the forest.

The full program can be viewed on www.mobiletech2014.com What’s just as impressive, a special two-for-one registration offer has been set up for those who register before Friday, June 27. As well as half price registrations, those registering before this date will also be going into a draw to win an $1800 FZ A1 Panasonic Toughpad.

Post-Budget housing confidence booster needed

THE latest building approvals highlight the need for the government to continue setting out its post-Budget growth strategy to boost home buyer and investor confidence.

PAGE 14 | ISSUE 321

“The 5.6%t drop in total dwellings approved, seasonally adjusted in April, is largely due to a 14% decline in approvals for other dwellings (including apartments) which followed previous strong

growth in units and apartments over the past 12 months,” Master Builders chief economist Peter Jones said.

The multi-unit sector has enjoyed a stellar run in recent months

and therefore this fall back is not entirely unexpected. It is in contrast to the small drop in approvals for detached houses of 0.3% in April to a level still 16.5% above its position at the same time last year.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Exposed core veneer used as a feature is increasing in popularity From P 11

private and peaceful back yard.

Collectively, the design virtues of history and progress are wellmated in this home, a balance maintained by a capable effort in architectural design.

Inside, the classic-meetscontemporary fusion is shown throughout.

Some rooms, like the kitchen and stairwell, continue the angular and contemporary fashion of the house’s rear section. Other rooms, like the den and single bedrooms, feature recycled

History and progress are well-mated wood, brick and ceiling patterns that are furnished with contemporary features and modern art. Other rooms reverse this approach, with wild, angular room shapes furnished with mid-century modern furniture.

The Casa 31_4 Room House .. winner of the Western Australia Design Institute’s Residential Award of Merit.

In total, this collaborative work by Caroline Di Costa and Iredale Pedersen Hook is a success in restorative architecture. It not only returns an aging structure to a modern appeal, it pushes the envelope with contemporary design to something greater than the sum of its parts.

Austral Premium AC (exterior) plywood is a high quality plywood manufactured with a high grade face and a lesser grade back. Exterior plywood is suitable for semi-exposed applications.

Hoop pine, a designated marine species, is dimensionally stable, easy

to work and is suitable for applications involving longterm exposure to Australia’s harsh environment without fear of delamination. Hoop pine provides an excellent substrate for high quality exterior paint.

Austral Plywoods’ exterior products are certified to Super E0, the lowest emission rating obtainable.

The exterior hoop plywood also complies with the structural standard AS/NZS 2269, and has a stress grade of F17.

Exposed core veneer used as a feature is increasing in popularity. Austral Plywoods produces exterior plywood with minimal core gaps to beautify this effect.

The Austral plywood flooring is suitable for clear finishing; the face veneer is a selected ‘A’ grade 2.5 mm hoop pine veneer.

The plywood is manufactured to the AS/NZS 2269-2004 standard and complies with the EWPAA-JAS-ANZ Quality Control Program.

Fresh design and improved search function From P 4

outstanding example of how FWPA is meeting its objectives of providing pre-competitive information and resources,” Mr

Sinclair said.

Incorporating user feedback and enhanced usability, the new FWPA website offers visitors a fresh design and improved

search function for easier access to the site’s extensive database of research reports and industry information.

Feedback and comments are

welcome. Contact the program manager Jim Houghton at jim.houghton@fwpa.com.au The new website can be viewed at www.fwpa.com.au

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ISSUE 321 | PAGE 15

PASSAGES

A lover of wood, Rick Waters was a Hoo-Hoo through and through HOO-HOO pioneers of Brisbane Club 218 gathering in Brisbane last Friday for their annual luncheon were saddened to hear of the death on June 2 of ‘a brother in HooHoo’ Rick Waters, 55, husband of HHI JIV secretary Trish Waters.

Rick was in Brisbane last August to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Club 218, proudly representing Melbourne Club 217 and his wife who was unable to attend.

Depression claimed the life of this fine man who Trish said “took to Hoo-Hoo with a fervour” after he met her.

He was a true lover of wood, a carpenter, who only last week was completing a batch of red gum noodle boards for Chinese friends of the family.

“I had red gum sawdust all over the place,” Trish said.

Rick Waters (#99438) was HHI vice-gerent Area 3 and past president of North East Victoria Club 236. He was concatenated into the club on August 1, 2001 and embraced

A Hoo-Hoo through and through .. Rick Waters enjoys Brisbane Club 218’s 50th anniversary in Brisbane last August with Heather Luck, partner of J1V president PieterVerlinden, and Rose Towerton, wife of Club 218 pioneer Don Towerton.

everything about Hoo-Hoo. “He always proudly wore his badge and took to heart the words from the concatenation ceremony – ‘what you get out of the order; what we all get out of it is determined by what we are willing to put into it’,” Trish said.

“He participated in club activities in so many ways – at club board level at Melbourne

217 and North East Victoria 236 and on the JIV board as VG Area 3 and undertaking and organising many club projects.”

Last year Rick completed the upgrade of the Lookout at Wilson Park as part of Melbourne 217’s 50th anniversary and more recently supervised the construction of two picnic tables with the help of the kids at the Warburton

Community Centre.

“He loved to pass on his knowledge and skills to kids, particularly the troubled ones and was in his element teaching pre-apprentice carpentry students,” Trish said.

“He was my rock during the Coffs Harbour Convention and I could not have done it without him.

“We walked around the golf course on our last day enjoying the tranquillity of the resort and just being together.

“His other passion was the Newcastle Variety Bash and he completed this a couple of weeks ago.”

Rick’s service will be at the Heritage Funeral Home, 733 Boronia Road, Wantirna, on Thursday, June 12, commencing at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Newcastle Variety Bash Car 602 would be appreciated.

Trish added: “I would also like to extend thanks for all the support many have given me.

It has made a heavy burden easier to carry.”

Senator puts sustainable forests in the picture ENVIRONMENTALISTS have released new photos they say prove the federal government was wrong in its bid to delist sections of Tasmania’s World Heritage forests.

Environment Tasmania spokesman Phil Pullinger says the images by Nature Photographers Tasmania, including aerial and ground shots, proved the majority of areas were “pristine wilderness landscapes”.

But aerial photographs taken

by Senator Richard Colbeck, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, quite clearly show the opposite is the case.

This photograph was taken inside the recently extended

PAGE 16 | ISSUE 321

Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area – an example of an area that Labor, the Greens and ENGOs say is pristine, untouched forest.

They claim this forest has

“outstanding” wilderness values and is suitable for Wilderness World Heritage listing.

“These areas have in fact been harvested over many

years, yet forestry operations have caused such little longterm damage that the Greens now claim they are World Heritage quality,” Senator Colbeck said.

“The Australian forestry industry is undeniably sustainable and does not destroy our forests as the Greens continue to claim in their confused and contradictory statements,” he said.

“Forestry can provide dividends for the environment, the community and industry.

The fact that areas like this are now included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area makes a mockery of the LaborGreen nomination to extend the area in 2013.”

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

Ah, now that’s the taste of an old growth forest

Something’s brewing in the woods at Cascade Locks in Oregon, USA THERE are differences between an old growth forest and one that’s been logged.

On a hike through an old growth forest near Portland, Oregon, Matt Wagoner of theUS Forest Park Conservancy points out some of the most obvious ones: older, taller, coniferous trees, dead trees both standing and fallen, and a wide variety of plants and animals living inside of and on top of that dead wood.

“One of the things that really defines old growth forests is biodiversity,” Wagoner says.

Wagoner and brewer Dan Hynes of Thunder Island Brewing in Cascade Locks want to know if that diversity carries over into the wild yeast that you can’t see. Yeast is a fungus, as well as a fundamental building block of beer. To test the diversity of wild yeast in an old growth forest, they decided to taste it.

They collected wild yeast from sites within an old growth and a logged forest and used it to brew several different beers.

Ultimately, Wagoner says, they’re curious: “What if you can really taste the differences between a yeast that’s gathered in an old growth forest as opposed to a second growth forest?”

One thing that defines old growth is the biodiversity Their experiment is part of a program called Beers Made By Walking that’s leading brewers on hikes across the Canada’s Northwest to look for local beer ingredients.

When Eric Steen created the program, he says, the idea was to tap people’s interest in beer to connect them with the local environment. The result has been beers made with native

OK, what’ll it be .. a jug of old growth or perhaps a jug of logged forest?

plants such as salmonberry, stinging nettle, wild ginger, vanilla leaf and the tips of spruce trees. Using yeast from a local forest takes the idea one step further.

“We’ve been joking – but only half joking – about the possibility of making beer not only with ingredients inspired by a trail but also in collaboration with the trail,” Steen says. “This adds another layer to learning about nature.”

To harvest wild yeast from the forest, the brewers used buckets of unfermented beer – basically sugar water – known as wort.

They set the buckets at noteworthy locations in the forest – alongside a decomposing nurse log teeming with moss and sprouting plants, next to a giant snag full of holes where wildlife have made their homes, under a cedar tree with a strip of bark removed in the traditional native American style, and under a 500-yearold Douglas fir tree. The fifth location was at a site next to the old growth forest, where it adjoined a forest that was logged about two decades ago.

They left the buckets in the forest after a snow storm in

February. Then, Hynes brought the yeast back to his brewery and cultivated it for three weeks.

The green, puckering taste of the resulting beer, he says, tells him that the yeast he collected in the forest is a less common type of wild yeast. He suspects that a lot of the more common yeast was less prevalent in the forest because of the cold February temperatures.

Yeast is in the air all around us, he says. But brewers normally reuse the same types of yeast that originally produced traditional lagers and ales.

“Our normal yeast is more like a cow,” he says. “It’s been bred over periods of time, and it has its different personality traits.

So, you can kind of know about it.”

He wants to know what kind of yeast is in the air now and see what kind of beer it can make.

“It’s your antelope, your elk, your moose – that’s what we’re hunting down,” he says.

Over one long weekend, Wagoner, Hynes and Steen led a hike of about a dozen people through the stands of trees where they harvested the yeast.

They stopped at each of the locations and poured samples

of the resulting beers so hikers could see the locations and compare the flavours of the resulting beer.

Beer writer Lucy Burningham was one of the beer connoisseurs on the hike. She says the beers made from the forest yeast are sour, for sure. And she tasted elements of other sour beers she’s had before.

“But I think what’s unique is the place that we’re standing and the sounds I’m hearing as I’m tasting these beers,” she says. “This is a unique experience for me.”

She says the flavours of the forest aren’t what she was expecting. It’s not like she could literally taste cedar in the beer that was made from yeast collected under the cedar tree.

“I think it’s definitely changed the way I’m thinking about the forest,” she says. “There’s all these invisible things that are part of the forest that have now shown up in the beer.”

Steen says that’s the reaction he was hoping for. He says it’s not that the resulting beer is that much better than other beers.

It’s how the beer allows people to experience the forest.

Using yeast from forests takes idea one step further “I like the idea of thinking of these beers potentially as artwork – as drinkable sculptures, as drinkable portraits,” he says. “It’s another way to interpret the landscape, to interpret the trail.”

Steen has several more brewbased hikes planned for Forest Park this summer. The resulting beers - including the old growth forest beer and a logged forest beer made by Hynes – will be on tap at a tasting event in October.

– Seattle News Service.

ISSUE 321 | PAGE 17

WOOD AS ART

Year of Wooden Horse captured in life-size driftwood sculptures THESE majestic horses galloping through the sea may look real but are in fact made from thousands of pieces of driftwood salvaged from the shore.

The life-size sculptures are the work of Birminghambased master craftsman James Doran-Webb, 46, who spent a painstaking six months assembling them as part of celebrations to mark Chinese New Year in Singapore.

Each of the three sculptures stands at around 6 ft (1.8 m) tall – or 16 hands as horse lovers might say – and is made from roughly 400 pieces of driftwood of varying sizes built around a stainless steel skeleton.

Each horse weighs around half a tonne and can take the weight of five people.

Mr Doran-Webb made all three with moveable limbs and neck so they can be arranged into

Master craftsman James Doran-Webb (pictured on horse) spent a painstaking six months assembling the sculptures as part of celebrations to mark Chinese New Year in Singapore.

lifelike poses, as these stunning photographs show.

He pays locals in his adopted hometown of Cebu, Philippines, to collect the wood from nearby beaches. For every kilo of wood salvaged, he plants a seedling at one of several sites around the city. The wood used for his sculptures is around 50 years old,

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PAGE 18 | ISSUE 321

The trio of horses were constructed for the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. They took pride of place in their Chinese New Year celebration, which fittingly marks the ‘Year of the Wooden Horse’.

and according to the craftsman it is ideal to work with.

He said: ‘It is an oily wood so it withstands weather and it is very tensile - it’s a dream to work with.’

“I started out with sketches of the horses then once I was happy with them I made miniature models of them, which took a

month on its own,” hhe added.

The next step for Mr DoranWebb will be to make a large plywood template on which he will weld the stainless steel frame.

“Putting the driftwood onto the sculpture took about three months. The large bits go on first followed by the more intricate pieces,” he said.

297x210mm Vertical 254x93mm Horizontal 125x190mm Vertical 125x93mm Horizontal 73x190mm Horizontal 73x190mm Vertical 140x44.5mm 110 Vertical 34x44.5mm

297x210mm Vertical 254x93mm Horizontal 125x190mm Vertical 125x93mm Horizontal 51x93mm

ISSUE 321 | PAGE 19